Business Development Manager (Conferences and Events)

University of Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dynamic Business Development Manager to drive growth in their Conference and Events function. This role is pivotal in supporting the University’s strategic vision by implementing an ambitious sales strategy aimed at increasing revenue from £2 million to £4 million. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business development within a commercial sales environment, particularly in MICE, and will be adept at building relationships with stakeholders. If you're passionate about events and eager to make a significant impact, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays

Generous pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Access to personal development courses

On-site childcare

Shopping discounts

Travel schemes

Qualifications

• Proven track record in business development and sales.
• Experience in MICE with a deep understanding of local sectors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a sales strategy to maximize business growth.
• Support academic colleagues in attracting conferences to the University.

Skills

Business Development

Sales Strategy

Lead Generation

Relationship Building

MICE Expertise

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Business or related field

Job description

This role will be based on the University campus. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Do you have the passion and drive to maximise business potential? Are you sales-focussed, with the ability to generate leads and build robust relationships with a variety of stakeholders?

The Conference and Events function plays a significant role in supporting the University’s strategic vision and world-class aspiration through its reputation for the successful delivery and professionalism of conferences, events and other services. The team’s income is set to grow significantly from £2million to as much as £4million following industry recovery from the pandemic and investment in facilities both on and off campus, including our city centre venue which launched in April 2023.

To realise this ambition, we seek to appoint a Business Development Manager who can proactively support the development, implementation and delivery of an ambitious sales strategy to grow and maximise our business. The Business Development Manager will support academic colleagues in attracting national and international association conferences to the University, as well as venue finding & event management agencies, and independently researching local industry sectors to establish the University as a venue of choice within the Leeds city region.

We are looking for a motivated and experienced business development professional with a proven track record of generating new business in a commercial sales environment. With significant expertise in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), you will have a deep understanding of local industry sectors. You should be passionate about working within an events team, with a strong can-do attitude and a drive to achieve sales targets. As an excellent team player, you will be adept at building relationships and communicating effectively at all levels.

Please note that due to Home Office visa requirements, this role may only be suitable for first-time Skilled Worker visa applicants if they are eligible for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

What We Offer In Return:

• 26 days holiday plus 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – that’s 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme options plus life assurance.
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:
Chelsea Rolfe-Hayes, email: [e-mail]

Further details:

• Candidate Brief